AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-013
ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North
America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the
activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an
active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating
through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor at amsat.org
In this edition:
* AO-51 Report
* SW Conference
* AMSAT Engineering Team Meets
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
* ARISS Status - 07 January 2008
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-013.01
AO-51 Report
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 013.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 13, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-013.01
Correction to the previously sent news item.
AO-51 update
The period of no eclipse for AO-51 is about a week old. The no
eclipse period has proven to exhibit many short periods when the
bad sun angle has caused the solar cells not to supply sufficient
power, this has been supplemented by the batteries. We have
increased the power output significantly over the last week, TXA
(L/U digital BB) is now running 630 mW and TXB (analog V/U repeater)
is running 820 mW. We plan on experimenting with the S-Band trans-
mitter and a U-Band transmitter during the next couple of weeks.
We do not have a published schedule as we are adapting the outputs
to optimize the satellite operation and decrease the temperatures.
Updated Note:1/13/2007--
AO-51 stopped transmitting and is going to be re-booted ASAP. Keep an
"ear" on it.
[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM and the AO-51 Command team for
the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-013.02
SW Conference
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 013.02
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 13, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-013.02
A conference on global shortwave coordination will be held February in
Kuala Lumpur. This, to try to resolve potential interference problems
likely to affect shortwave transmissions.
According to the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, the February meeting
will be hosted by VT Communications on behalf of the High Frequency
Coordination Conference, the Arab States Broadcasting Union and the
Asian Broadcasting Union. Using mutual coordination, delegates will
try to resolve many of the potential interference problems that are
likely to affect shortwave transmissions in the 2008 joint global
broadcasting schedule.
At present, a single global seasonal database of seasonal frequency
requirements, compiled by the High Frequency Coordination Conference
secretariat, assists in the coordination process. A new database of
frequency requirements for the shortwave radio broadcasting season from
March 30th to October 26th will be on the agenda of the conference.
Hams will want to keep an eye on the outcome of this gathering because
whatever is decided could impact on Amateur Radio operations in spectrum
that shared with international shortwave. (Southgate)
[ANS thanks ARNS for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-013.03
AMSAT Engineering Team Meets
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 013.03
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 13, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-013.03
With the holiday season behind and everyone settling back into winter
in the northern hemisphere, the AMSAT Engineering Team kicked off the
new year with the first meeting of 2008 on Tuesday, January 8.
Thirty-two radio amateurs met via a VoIP teleconference call to get
down to work on AMSAT's main missions which include the Eagle Satellite,
the geosynchronous Phase IV Lite rideshare opportunity with Intelsat,
and educational support for university projects.
Engineering project manager Barry Baines, WD4ASW moderated the meeting
along with AMSAT's Vice President of Engineering, Bob McGwier, N4HY.
AMSAT's volunteer engineers provided status and planning information
for the projects listed below. Barry, Bob and engineering team members
will provide members with detailed project information in future
columns of the AMSAT Journal.
Rick Hambly, W2GPS, AMSAT President, reported that negotiations are
continuing with Intelsat and are now going to focus on size, weight,
and cost of the geosynchronous rideshare arrangement. Rick reminded
everyone that our mission must excite potential grant funding sources
via our unique emergency communication and educational capabilities.
Watch the Journal for future details!
Matt Ettus, N2MJI has taken on the design of the Advanced Communication
Payload. The first steps toward specification of the high speed digital
channels, power requirements, uplink and downlink protocols, and class
of stations supported have begun. Watch the Journal for future details!
Howard Long, G6LVB continues work on the linear transponders based on
Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology. Development and testing are
underway. High altitude balloon, SuitSat2 and SSETI missions are
planning to utilize this transponder technology to provide early
experience prior to P3E and Eagle utilization. Watch the Journal for
future details!
Marc Franco, N2UO has started work on the VHF amplifier driver stage
using the silicon carbide technology enabling the 86% efficiency of
the main PA. Space rated components are under study. The 2 meter
band HELAPS amplifier will be the initial design and possible scaling
upward to the 70cm band is under consideration. Watch the Journal
for future details!
Lou McFadin, W5DID leads the team developing SuitSat-2. The internal
housekeeping unit (IHU) and AMSAT's software defined transponder
technology are the main items under development. Solar cells have been
donated by NASA. A new antenna system on top of the helmet has been
completed. Watch the Journal for future details!
Bob Davis, KF4KSS, AMSAT Lab Manager reported on several good projects
that have arisen out of the cooperative efforts of AMSAT and the HAWK
Institute of Space Sciences at the University of Maryland, Eastern
Shore. Construction of the AMSAT lab in the 8500 square foot facility
continues. The clean room and machine shop will be coming on line to
begin the development of the Eagle satellite space frame. University
students will utilize the facilities to develop and launch a high
altitude balloon project and a university cubesat both carrying
research-related and AMSAT-related payloads. Watch the Journal for
future details!
If you want to help with the AMSAT Engineering Team, send an e-mail to
Bob N4HY via n4hy at amsat.org.
[ANS thanks, Bob, N4HY, for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-013.04
Satellite Shorts From All Over
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 013.04
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 13, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-013.04
Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ Clint Bradford, K6LCS reports success from his Wednesday, January 9
AO-51 club demonstration. "AO-51 performed tremendously! We worked
Mexico and a couple California stations", said Clint.
+ Drew, KO4MA, AMSAT-NA VP Operations, says, "The satellite is now in
full sun, with no eclipses, for the next several months. The downlink
power has been increased substantially, to 630mw on the data side, and
820mw on the repeater side. Temperatures aboard the satellite have
increased, but are within expectations".
+ Ed Long, WA4SWJ, Editor, The AMSAT Journal reminds authors that the
dead-line is approaching for article submissions for the Jan/Feb 08
Journal. If you have an article to submit Ed would love to have it as
soon as possible.
+ AMSAT Store Manager, Bruce, KK5DO suggests you check out the new 2GB
USB Flash Drive in an aluminum finish with the AMSAT logo in the store.
Bruce says, "This has to be one of the best items we have carried.
Something that all of us can use."
+ The current launch date for the PSLV-C9, carrying the NLS-4 set of
nanosatellites (CanX-2, Delfi-C3, AAUSat-II, COMPASS-1,
Cute-1.7+APDII, SEEDS) is February 14.
+ Reserve your seat! For his next big plan for the private space
industry, Richard Branson is thinking up new ways to excite affluent
space tourists:
flying them into the biggest lightshow on Earth, the Aurora Borealis.
Although the New Mexico Virgin Galactic Spaceport isn't scheduled for
com-pletion until 2010, the British entrepreneur is already planning his
next project intended for cruises into the spectacular space phenomenon
from an Arctic launchpad. (Universe Today)
+ Amateur radio to the moon? Possible rideshare arrangements to the
moon via ESA and NASA student projects are discussed in the November/
December 2007 AMSAT Journal. Not a member? Didn't get the Journal?
Sign up for membership today at http://www.amsat.org!
[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-013.05
ARISS Status - 07 January 2008
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 013.05
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
January 13, 2008
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-013.05
ARISS STATUS 07 January 2008
1. ARISS School Contacts Status
Due to ISS crew schedules, no Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) contacts are planned at this time. The ARISS team
expects contacts to resume once STS-122 launches in late January.
2. Astronaut Training Status
Timothy Creamer, KC5WKI, is scheduled for a training session in basic
radio operations and school contacts on Tuesday, January 8. Creamer is
a backup crew member for the Expedition 18 mission.
3. ARISS Annual Report
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) FY2007
annual report has been written and is being finalized. It will soon be
posted on the ARISS section of the AMSAT Web site.
[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information]
/EX
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors
to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits.
Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Dee Interdonato, NB2F
nb2f at amsat dot org